KC minister wants to ban saggy pants

Petition drive gets underway in KC

A Kansas City-area minister wants the city to impose and enforce a ban on baggy, saggy pants.

The Rev. John Birmingham says he's seeing too many young men make a fashion statement he sees as vulgar.

"We consider it public indecency and indecent exposure," Birmingham said.

He and a handful of other people have been working to whip up support for a ban on sagging pants in Kansas City. They gathered the first of what they hope will be hundreds of signatures on a petition to take to the City Council and eventually to voters.

Danny Snyder was one of the people who signed the petition, saying he sees sagging pants at area malls.

"You know, it's just disgusting," he said. "Especially if you take your grandkids out there and they're going, 'Look at that,' you know?"

Birmingham said the saggers give people way too much to look at.

"A lot of folk are being very offended at this fashion here," Birmingham said. "You know, you may say, 'Well it's our right (to wear saggy pants).' Well, it's our right not to look at your underwear."

He said he doesn't see the problem as a racial issue. He said he finds the look offensive no matter the color of the person's skin.

Birmingham said he thinks saggy clothes indicate a lack of respect for self and others. He said other communities in Missouri and elsewhere have already made sagging a crime.

"I have to admit, I'm curious how they would enforce it," said Paul White, who said he supports the idea.

"First a warning, then if they're caught, a stiff fine, " Birmingham said.

He said the fine could be as much as $50. He said he even supports a short stint in jail, but he hopes it will never come to that.

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